Device for the protection of bank-tellers



(No Model.)

L. P. JOHNSON & 0. J.R. BERGSTROM. DEVICE FOR THE PROTECTION OF BANK TELLERS. 1%. 441,668. W

WHHHHIM Patented Dec. 2, 1890.

. l/igva' c r W a ll It i T .-7' m g F I 11'; Jr

a [HHHHHI n.

1 a?? J v 4Z7 a. e i4:

Wwmtmf 6 a? a n y elbto'omi o UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LE WIS PETER JOHNSON AND CARL J OHAN ROBERT BERGSTROll/I, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

DEV|CE FOR THE PROTECTION OF BANK-TELLERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,668, dated December 2, 1890.

Application filed May 1'7, 1890. Serial No. 352,128. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that We, LEWIs PETER JOHN- SON and CARL JoHAN ROBERT BERGSTROM, of St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for the Protection of Bank-Tellers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention has for its object to protect bank tellers or oflicials, paymasters, disbursing agents, express agents, or other persons handling valuables, money, 850., against being held up or robbed by burglars or bankrobbers, whose usual course of procedure is to either reach into the tellers office through the grating or openings therein and secure their booty, or else cover the teller or other officer with a pistol or other arm and compel him to hand out the booty or forfeit his life. This object is primarily accomplished by means of an automatic metallic curtain or shutter, which may be released by the foot of the person attacked, and will instantly screen him from his assailant, in the preferred form the curtain-being supplemented by quick-acting automatic strikingarms which knock the weapon of the assailant, and either disarm him entirely or else destroy his aim, and thereby prevent him from doing any injury.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view through a bank-tellers counter, showing the grating and our automatic proteeting-curtain in elevation, the latter being lowered. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the curtain and arm sprung or in elevated position. Fig. 3 is a section and elevation taken on the opposite side from Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the top of the counter. I

Like letters of reference in the several figures denote the same parts.

The device being primarily designed for application to bank-counters, it has been deemed necessary to show and describe but this single application, the other situations and conditions under which it may be used being obvious, and will at once suggest themselves to interested persons.

A indicates the counter; 13, a metal plate upon which money is pushed to or from the teller and on or over which is secured the grating 0, having the usual openings therein. Two slots or openings are formed in the counter A, or, more properly, in the plate B, one on each side of and extending way across the grating. Fitting neatly within these openings, so as to present when closed down a perfectly smooth surface over which money may be passed, are two arms D, pivoted at or near opposite ends at d, and adapted to swing up across the grating under the impulse of springs D, attached to their shorter ends. A plate or base E extends down from beneath the counter from a pointimmediately below the grating, and on the side next the telleris provided with ways or guides E in line with the opening in the plate. A curtain F slides in these guides, being adapted to be moved up and into position to cover the grating and screen the teller by springs G, secured thereto at the center and passing around the edges of the plate in coils and secured rigidly on the opposite side, as shown.

A spring-catch H is provided on the curtain for. holding the same up, and a handle it to depress the same, both the curtain and the arms being held down or in set position by spring-catches, to be now described, and adapted to be released by pressing on the treadle or toe-piece I with either foot. Each of the arms is provided with downwardlyextending books or catches K, which engage pivoted or sliding latches K beneath the counter. These catches are of course at opposite sides of the grating, and in order to operate them simultaneously they are connected to a central pivoted disk L by links K. The disk L is turned in one direction by the spring M to hold the latches in engagement and in the opposite direction to release the latches by an arm Z, connected to the treadle by a rod or wire m. The upright for the treadle preferably works within a hollow standard N,which may be screwed down to the floor at any convenient point, and is-elevated by a spring a working within the standard. If desired, the

standard may be made of telescoping sections,

as shown, to adapt it for use in connection with counters of different heights.

The tripping-arm and latches form in effect a trigger mechanism for retaining the arms and curtain in set position, and while the form shown has many advantages it is obvious that many modifications may be made in this part of the mechanism without departing from the spirit of our invention.

The catch II may be of any desired construction, butin the preferred form consists of a piece of spring metal secured to the curtain with the lower edge bent outward, so that as the curtain rises to the position shown in Fig 2, the catch will readily pass through the opening in the counter and the free lower edge at once spring outinto position above the counter, thereby preventing the downward movement of the curtain until the catch is again thrust \Vhen the curtain and arms have been sprung by the teller and it is desired to reset the parts, it is only necessary to press in the catch and draw the curtain down by means of its handle until it is caught by one of the latches, then bring down the arm over the same, pushing the curtain still farther, or until the catch on the arm is engaged by the latch, and then turn the other arm down until it is caught, leaving the top of the counter perfectly smooth and regular, as shown.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is 1. In a device of the character specified, the combination, with the counter, of the sliding curtain or shutter adapted to move into position above the counter, a catch for holding it in such position, and a trigger or catch for holding it in retracted position, substantially as described.

2. I11 a device of the character specified, the combination, with the counter having vertical ways or guides beneath the same, of the curtain or shutter working in said guides, the springs for elevating the same, the catch for holding it elevated and the latch or trigger for holding it depressed, and the foot-piece or treadle connected to the latch for releasing the shutter, substantially as described.

In an automatic device for the protection of bank-tellers, &e.,the combination, with the automatic striker-arm, of the automatic shutter, and a latch ortrigger for holding said arm and shutter in retracted position, substantial] y as described.

4. 111 an automatic device for the protection of bank-tellers, &c., the combination, with the pivoted striker-arm and the spring for throwing said arm in an are above the counter, of the shutter, a spring for moving said shutter into position, and a latch or trigger mechanism for retaining the shutter and arm in retracted position, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic device for the protection of bank-tellers, 850., the combination, with the counter having an opening inthe top and an automatic shutter working through said opening to screen the teller, of a pivoted arm or member fitting in said opening over the curtain or shutter when retracted to fill the opening and form a smooth counter, substantially as described.

(3. In an automatic device for the protection of bank-tellers, &c., the combination, with the counter having the grated opening above the same and an opening in the counter on each side of said grating, of an automatic strikerarm working in the opening in front of the grating, an automatic curtain or shutter working in the opening in rear of the grating, and a latch or trigger mechanism for holding said arm and shutter depressed, substantially as described.

7. In an automatic device for the protection of bank-tellers, &c., the combination, with the counter having the grated opening above the same with openings in the counter in front and rear of the grating, of a striker-arm pivoted in the opening in front, a curtain or shutter working in the opening in rear of the grating, and a pivoted striker-arm seating in the lastmentioned opening, said arms being adapted to lie flush withthe top of the counter, springs connected to said arms and curtain or shutter for throwing them into position, and alatch or trigger mechanism for holdi mg the arms and shutter depressed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEWIS PETER JOHNSON. CARL JOllAN ROBERT BERGSTROM.

\Vitnesses:

Louis Fnnsna, J r., I. W. FARICY. 

